Phil Jackson said he will meet with Steve Kerr in the next week to gauge his interest in coaching the Knicks after his fiancée, Jeanie Buss, failed in recent days to convince Jackson to coach.

In his first comments since Monday’s firing of Mike Woodson, Jackson said he and Kerr, the overwhelming favorite to be the Knicks’ next head coach, have “philosophically a strong connection.’’

Jackson indicated he could have a new coach in place “in the next month,” but said the only timetable is making a hire before the summer league in July. Kerr will be in Brooklyn on Sunday to broadcast the Raptors-Nets and they likely will meet the next day.

Jackson, who owns a record 11 championship rings, revealed Buss, the Lakers president, tried convincing him during a New York visit over the weekend to coach the team next season.

Jackson said Buss’ argument was it is “lower risk for me. ‘Do what you know best’ type of thing.’’ Jackson added, “I’ve made up my mind on that. [I’m] willful in that regard. I know physically what I can do. I don’t think it’s physically what I can do.’’

The Post has reported Jackson needs a second knee replacement surgery, but that Buss believes he is healthy enough to coach was a revelation.
“She tried to encourage me to coach the team,” Jackson said. “If there’s anyone who can encourage me to do anything, it’s Jeanie Buss. But I was able to withstand her arguments the whole time.”

Knicks owner James Dolan told The Post last month: “If Phil ever wanted to coach, he can coach. He’s in charge of all basketball decisions. If one of them is, ‘I want to coach.’ That’s fine with me. I think he would love to coach. But I think he feels he just can’t do the grind.’’

Kerr appears Jackson’s first, second and third choice. Jackson said he will speak to others, but wouldn’t name anyone else. Derek Fisher figures to be considered, but he’s still playing in the playoffs for Oklahoma City. Jackson said, however, the playoffs would not delay his decision.

Jackson’s former longtime assistant Jim Cleamons could get an interview, but he’s also be viewed as a potential associate coach. Jackson also could ask permission from Denver to speak to former aide Brian Shaw.

Jackson said he spoke to Kerr a year ago about coaching when it appeared Jackson would be named president of a new Seattle franchise before the Kings’ move from Sacramento was torpedoed. Kerr wasn’t interested then, but that apparently changed in January when the Knicks were still courting Jackson.

“Steve and I talked a year ago,’’ Jackson said. “When Seattle had bought the rights to the Sacramento Kings from the Maloof brothers, I talked to him about his interest at that time. He said at the time he wasn’t ready to coach. We had another conversation at breakfast in January. He wanted to talk about style of coaching, purely philosophical discussion. We have very similar space about coaching in a lot of ways. Philosophically, we have a strong connection.

“We will have a conversation with him later on this month and talk to him about it and see where he’s at with his desire to coach.”
Jackson admitted he’s not looking for a coaching retread and likes that Kerr would come in with an open mind and no head-coaching experience. He served three years as the Suns general manager.

“We get caught up in replicating what others do,’’ Jackson said. “I’m not looking for a coach to do that.’’

Jackson said he’s also looking for a coach with “charismatic appeal.’’

“We’re looking for a leader,’’ he said. “Someone who can bring out the best in players. Someone who has a unique ability in encouraging staff to meet needs players have. New York demands a personality, a person fans can believe in, a person who has some confidence and charismatic appeal and has a forward-looking idea about the game.”

Jackson said the new coach will pick his staff, but said he’ll have “veto power.’’ He also didn’t waver on his desire to employ the nearly extinct triangle offense, which Kerr is familiar with after winning three titles with Jackson in Chicago.

“I’ve had conversations with coaches now wanting to know more about it,’’ Jackson said. “It’s executing a system where I like to see full involvement of players in an offensive format. As much as I think there’s been a big change with screen and rolls and guys standing in the corner shooting 3’s, it’s not the way I like to see basketball played. I like to see all the players involved in play-making skills and operating in the offense itself with ball movement and player movement. A lot of times we’re more stagnant than that right now.’’

What was Jackson's most interesting remark?

Wait... Jackson doesn't want a coach to "replicate what others do," but, on the other hand, he wants one with a "forward-looking" approach to the game. The triangle is not a new concept, but old hat, Jackson's own blast from the past. So, which is it? Something old or something new, something borrowed, or something blue?

If Phil is looking for a leader it's certainly not 'Steve Kerr'. His personality was always a part or just a piece, he was always lucky to be in the right place and the right time. The likes of playing with Jordan, Duncan and to get hook up with Marv Albert was more an 'a kisser' . Basketball player talent, he could shoot but nothing else, slow and no defense, average player really, coach wise idk.

Phil, I'll carry you piggy back up and down the practice court if you coach! But seriously, those motorized chairs go pretty fast, or one of those train tracks along the sidelines like the ones they use for filing action scenes! We can even mount that big chair they put on the side during a game several years ago!!! lol

I hope we get players that will put their heart and soul into playing the triangle offense. If Melo wants to learn how to pass and move without the ball. I hope he stays, if not there are a lot of guys that would love to be the #1 option with that offense.

That he hopes Anthony is true to his word about considering a pay cut. I hope that's an out of context quote. Sounds a tad insulting, and would also make it hard to re-sign Melo for the max, which is one of the positive selling points for him re-signing here; we can offer the most. Unless Phil has no interest in Melo at the max.

@spragga benz I think he made a mistake with going public with this. Why not wait until July when Melo is entertaining offers, and keep it behind closed doors? And I think you're on to something. Jackson's remark tells me he's not all that crazy about Melo's game. But, still, the timing seems dumb. There's nothing to gain by demeaning Melo in public, in April. Unless, as you suggest, Jackson has not interest in him at all and plans to let him walk.